A TODDLER who had an undetected heart condition died after contracting flu, an inquest heard.

Scarlett Veronica Walker, aged two, died unexpectedly when her health deteriorated days after seemingly coming down with a sickness bug.

Bolton Coroners Court heard how the youngster had previously been sent home twice from a doctors’ surgery after being diagnosed with a viral infection.

However, Assistant Coroner Timothy Brennand refused to place any blame on the medical professionals who had dealt with Scarlett in the week before her death on February 25.

Her mother, Megan Burns, of Durrington Place, Westhoughton, described her as her “little angel” and told the inquest: “She spent the last week of her life asleep on the sofa when we would usually spend the days playing together.

“My little girl loved colouring and would chase me around the house with a stick screaming yee-haw because she loved Toy Story. But that last week we did nothing.”

The inquest heard the toddler was taken to Stable Fold Surgery in Church Street, Westhoughton, on February 22, after she became lethargic and unwilling to eat or drink.

She was diagnosed with a viral infection and sent home but after her condition worsened she was taken back the following day to see a different doctor. The youngster was then diagnosed with a throat ulcer and was prescribed ibuprofen.

But a day later Scarlett's lips turned blue while she slept and her parents took her to Royal Bolton Hospital A&E where she was diagnosed with tonsillitis and given antibiotics and numbing spray.

She was sent home from hospital and tucked into bed before she woke up later that night and went downstairs to be with Miss Burns.

Her dad, Leon Walker then picked up Scarlett and put her in her own bed before he told his partner that she was “making funny noises”.

The court heard that Miss Burns ran into her daughter's room but found her unresponsive.

The couple spent 40 minutes trying to resuscitate their daughter until paramedics arrived and she was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital but was pronounced dead following another hour of CPR.

A post mortem examination revealed that Scarlett had an undetected heart condition and died as a result of contracting a flu which lead to bronchiolitis, leading to a heart attack.

Mr Brennand said: “The loss of any child is always a tragedy and the loss of Scarlett is particularly tragic and upsetting.

“The court is struck by the care, dedication and evident ability of her mother and father to care for their daughter and particular skills to answer the rhetorical question, ‘what more could we have done?’.

“The answer is nothing, nothing more could have been done. No parents could have done more.”

Mr Brennand noted that Scarlett’s lips turning blue had been an isolated incident and that the conduct of the doctors who dealt with her was appropriate and professional.

He recorded a narrative conclusion that Scarlett “died as a consequence of a viral infection on the background of naturally occurring disease”.